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Radio review: How Donald Duck helped win the war

Nuala McCann

Nuala McCann

Nuala McCann is an Irish News columnist and writes a weekly radio review.

Nuala McCann
Nuala McCann Nuala McCann

Donald Duck Gets Drafted Radio 4

Belfast 89FM

Love him or hate him, the Donald Duck squawk is unmistakeable.

But the role of Disney in World War II is less well known.

Ever heard of Commando Duck? Donald was “propaganda gold”, like MGM giving the war effort Clark Gable, one contributor to this documentary said.

Gerard Scarfe, illustrator and presenter of Donald Duck Gets Drafted, is a self confessed, life-long Disney fan. Jiminy Cricket started him on his own path.

This was an unusual look at how the Disney characters became part of the World War II propaganda machine. It was Donald Duck who urged Americans to pay their income tax for the war effort... and they listened to his squawk and they did.

This was a waltz through cartoon propaganda and military training films including the alternative remake of the Three Little Pigs where the strong house is made of war bonds and the big bad wolf is Nazi Germany.

Thus, the Disney studios became a war plant. Mickey Mouse gas masks; ‘tasteful’ Disney pin up girls...was there no end?

There was a great little film urging housewives to play their part.

“Save your kitchen fats, fats make glycerine and glycerine makes explosives,” they’re told.

Not that Disney ever called his war films propaganda. They were what Walt called: ``psychological productions.'' But what motivated Walt to use his inkwells as weapons for war?

Unerring patriotism or a shrewd business move? Perhaps it was both.

Years later, Walt said in a magazine feature: “Not many people get the chance to help both their country and themselves.”

And there’s proof that it had an effect. It’s even said that Hitler had Walt put on his personal hit list because of those films.

Community radio station Belfast 89 targets those of 55 and over. But what’s in a number? Chancing upon Dr Hook, Diana Ross and an old song called A S S S..Single bed by Fox ... it felt like being beamed back to those long ago hot summers with Noel’s Radio One road show, the brilliant “bits n pieces” and when someone left the cake out in the rain. Ahhh.